Ring's Protect plans have long been some of the most comprehensive and competitively priced security packages. They offer up to 60 days of video storage for all Ring cameras, as well as 24/7 professional monitoring, discounts, and extended warranties on Ring devices.

From $30/year at Ring

Google announced in 2019 that it would be changing the Nest Aware plans to be simpler, more affordable, and easier to understand, and for the most part, it succeeded. Now you can get an unlimited amount of devices on even the cheapest plan, with the differentiator being the length of your recording history.

From $60/year at Google

Amazon's Ring and Google's Nest brands are two of the most recognizable names in the home security space these days. Both companies offer an assortment of smart video doorbells, cameras, and connected lighting solutions, and both also offer home security systems connected to their respective personal assistants, Alexa and the Google Assistant. However, all of that smart video footage and safety alerts need to be stored and monitored somewhere, and that's where Ring Protect and Nest Aware come in to play. We'll go through their features, similarities, and differences to help you decide which is the best option for you.

Both Ring Protect and Nest Aware offer two separate plans with differing amounts of video storage, monitoring, other features, and at different price points. Let's take a look at the different options below.

Ring's Protect plans have always been straightforward. The company only offers two paid tiers, and both are cheaper than what competitor Nest offers. The Basic plan is only $3/month and gets you nearly all of the features of the pricier Plus plan. The only downside? It's only good for one device.

As soon as you move to want multiple devices covered, you have to pay more than three times as much ($10/month or $100/year) for the Plus plan. The bonus to the Basic plan though, is that if you only have one device (say an external camera or a video doorbell), you only have to pay for one device.

With the Ring Protect Plus plan, you get coverage for all of your Ring devices, not just one. In addition to everything that the Basic plan covers, you also get 24/7 professional monitoring for a Ring Alarm system (something Nest outsources and is a separate cost), extended warranties for all of your Ring devices, and 10% off select products at Ring.com. Ring's Plus plan gives you the same amount of video history as Nest's Plus plan, but it doesn't give you the 10 days of 24/7 history that Nest does. That being said, Ring's Plus plan is $20 cheaper per year than Nest's.

The other area that I think puts Ring ahead? You still get some basic (sub-basic?) functionality, even with the free tier. The no-pay option includes things like motion notifications, real-time look in and two-way talk, and lifetime theft protection with any Ring smart camera device. They're just enough to matter and to give you a taste of what you might be missing with a paid plan. Smart.

Up until spring 2020, Nest had a somewhat complicated and confusing pricing structure for its Aware security subscriptions. It used to be that customers could pay based on how long of a video recording session they wanted (5 days, 10 days, 30 days), and you had to pay that fee per camera or device. Now, there are only two pricing tiers, and both apply to all of the Nest devices in your home.

At first glance, the "basic" Nest Aware plan looks like a terrible deal compared to Ring Protect's Basic plan, coming in at twice the price, but once you read the details, you see that it's a better deal if you have more than one device. Nest's lower-tier Aware plan covers as many devices as you have with 30 days of event video history. True, this is less than what Ring Protect Basic offers (60 days), but it covers more devices.

The Nest Aware Plus plan builds on this with twice the event video history (60 days) and adds in 10 days of 24/7 continuous recording. Plus, you get facial and package recognition, advanced audio sensing by Nest speakers (kind of like what Amazon Echo speakers can do through Alexa Guard), and new signups will get a free Nest Mini. Okay, it seems like Google just throws Nest Mini speaker at anyone who walks by, but it's a great little smart speaker, and in my opinion, you can't have too many Minis in your home!

I know it sounds like a cop-out when a reviewer says, "just go with whatever ecosystem you're comfortable with," but in this case, that rings true (no pun intended).

If you have a lot of Amazon Echo or Ring devices already, then going with Ring Protect is a no-brainer. If you prefer Nest hardware and the Google Assistant, and if you already have some of Nest's great smart home devices, then go with Nest Aware.

Both companies make excellent connected home products, and both video recording and monitoring plans offer similar features that are competitively priced. Yes, there are nuances in the structure and costs of each plan and tier, but that's not what's going to make you choose one service over the other. The ecosystem will.

However, if you want to know which one is the better deal, it depends on how many devices you have. Ring is cheaper overall with more features for that price, but it gets way more expensive when you have more than one device. Nest is more expensive, but is a better deal if you have a lot of devices.

I have smart devices from both Ring and Nest in my home, but we tend to rely much more on Amazon Echos and Alexa to run our connected home than our Nest speakers, so if I'm forced to chose right now, I will go with Ring. However, your choices will be influenced by how you've set up or plan to set up your home. Just know that either way you go, you're going to be getting an outstanding value.

Alexa's aide

The free and Basic tiers of Ring protect have great services, but only apply to one device. If you have more than one Ring product, opt for Protect Plus.

Nest nailed it

Nest nailed the formula when it changed its Aware plans to cover all of your Nest devices, regardless of tier. If they could bring the price of each down just a smidgen, it would be an easy first choice.

Go here to see the original:
Nest Aware vs. Ring Protect: Which is the better deal? - Android Central

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Technavio has been monitoring the smart doorbell market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.19 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 25% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Request for Technavio's latest reports on directly and indirectly impacted markets. Market estimates include pre- and post-COVID-19 impact on the Smart Doorbell Market Download free sample report

The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. Aeotec Ltd., Arlo Technologies Inc., August Home Inc., Eques Inc., Google LLC, iseeBell Inc., Ring LLC, SkyBell Technologies Inc., Soliom Solar Home Security, and Xiaomi Corp. are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.

View market snapshot before purchasing

Increasing demand for smart locks has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Technavio's custom research reports offer detailed insights on the impact of COVID-19 at an industry level, a regional level, and subsequent supply chain operations. This customized report will also help clients keep up with new product launches in direct & indirect COVID-19 related markets, upcoming vaccines and pipeline analysis, and significant developments in vendor operations and government regulations. https://www.technavio.com/report/report/smart-doorbell-market-industry-analysis

Smart Doorbell Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Smart Doorbell Market is segmented as below:

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40574

Smart Doorbell Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The smart doorbell market report covers the following areas:

This study identifies the integration of advanced technologies as one of the prime reasons driving the smart doorbell market growth during the next few years.

Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports.

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Smart Doorbell Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Product

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor Analysis

Appendix

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Read the original here:
COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Analysis- Smart Doorbell Market 2020-2024 | Increasing Demand for Smart Locks to Boost Growth | Technavio - Business Wire

A new market report by Verified Market Research on the Smart Home Security Market has been released with reliable information and accurate forecasts for a better understanding of the current and future market scenarios. The report offers an in-depth analysis of the global market, including qualitative and quantitative insights, historical data, and estimated projections about the market size and share in the forecast period. The forecasts mentioned in the report have been acquired by using proven research assumptions and methodologies. Hence, this research study serves as an important depository of the information for every market landscape. The report is segmented on the basis of types, end-users, applications, and regional markets.

The research study includes the latest updates about the COVID-19 impact on the Smart Home Security sector. The outbreak has broadly influenced the global economic landscape. The report contains a complete breakdown of the current situation in the ever-evolving business sector and estimates the aftereffects of the outbreak on the overall economy.

Get Sample Copy with TOC of the Report to understand the structure of the complete report @ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid=26219&utm_source=COD&utm_medium=007

The report also emphasizes the initiatives undertaken by the companies operating in the market including product innovation, product launches, and technological development to help their organization offer more effective products in the market. It also studies notable business events, including corporate deals, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, product launches, and brand promotions.

Leading Smart Home Security manufacturers/companies operating at both regional and global levels:

The report also inspects the financial standing of the leading companies, which includes gross profit, revenue generation, sales volume, sales revenue, manufacturing cost, individual growth rate, and other financial ratios.

The report also focuses on the global industry trends, development patterns of industries, governing factors, growth rate, and competitive analysis of the market, growth opportunities, challenges, investment strategies, and forecasts till 2026. The Smart Home Security Market was estimated at USD XX Million/Billion in 2016 and is estimated to reach USD XX Million/Billion by 2026, expanding at a rate of XX% over the forecast period. To calculate the market size, the report provides a thorough analysis of the market by accumulating, studying, and synthesizing primary and secondary data from multiple sources.

To get Incredible Discounts on this Premium Report, Click Here @ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ask-for-discount/?rid=26219&utm_source=COD&utm_medium=007

The market is predicted to witness significant growth over the forecast period, owing to the growing consumer awareness about the benefits of Smart Home Security. The increase in disposable income across the key geographies has also impacted the market positively. Moreover, factors like urbanization, high population growth, and a growing middle-class population with higher disposable income are also forecasted to drive market growth.

According to the research report, one of the key challenges that might hinder the market growth is the presence of counter fit products. The market is witnessing the entry of a surging number of alternative products that use inferior ingredients.

Key factors influencing market growth:

Reasons for purchasing this Report from Verified Market Research

Customized Research Report Using Corporate Email Id @ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/Smart-Home-Security-Market/?utm_source=COD&utm_medium=007

Customization of the Report:

Verified Market Research also provides customization options to tailor the reports as per client requirements. This report can be personalized to cater to your research needs. Feel free to get in touch with our sales team, who will ensure that you get a report as per your needs.

Thank you for reading this article. You can also get chapter-wise sections or region-wise report coverage for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.

To summarize, the Smart Home Security market report studies the contemporary market to forecast the growth prospects, challenges, opportunities, risks, threats, and the trends observed in the market that can either propel or curtail the growth rate of the industry. The market factors impacting the global sector also include provincial trade policies, international trade disputes, entry barriers, and other regulatory restrictions.

About us:

Verified Market Research is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ customers. Verified Market Research provides advanced analytical research solutions while offering information enriched research studies. We offer insight into strategic and growth analyses, Data necessary to achieve corporate goals and critical revenue decisions.

Our 250 Analysts and SMEs offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance use industrial techniques to collect and analyse data on more than 15,000 high impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research.

Contact us:

Mr. Edwyne Fernandes

US: +1 (650)-781-4080UK: +44 (203)-411-9686APAC: +91 (902)-863-5784US Toll Free: +1 (800)-7821768

Email: [emailprotected]

Read the original:
Smart Home Security Market 2019 Break Down by Top Companies, Countries, Applications, Challenges, Trends, Opportunities and Forecast 2026 - Cole of...

Home Security Sensors Market 2018: Global Industry Insights by Global Players, Regional Segmentation, Growth, Applications, Major Drivers, Value and Foreseen till 2024

The report provides both quantitative and qualitative information of global Home Security Sensors market for period of 2018 to 2025. As per the analysis provided in the report, the global market of Home Security Sensors is estimated to growth at a CAGR of _% during the forecast period 2018 to 2025 and is expected to rise to USD _ million/billion by the end of year 2025. In the year 2016, the global Home Security Sensors market was valued at USD _ million/billion.

This research report based on Home Security Sensors market and available with Market Study Report includes latest and upcoming industry trends in addition to the global spectrum of the Home Security Sensors market that includes numerous regions. Likewise, the report also expands on intricate details pertaining to contributions by key players, demand and supply analysis as well as market share growth of the Home Security Sensors industry.

Get Free Sample PDF (including COVID19 Impact Analysis, full TOC, Tables and Figures) of Market Report @ https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=2506755&source=atm

Home Security Sensors Market Overview:

The Research projects that the Home Security Sensors market size will grow from in 2018 to by 2024, at an estimated CAGR of XX%. The base year considered for the study is 2018, and the market size is projected from 2018 to 2024.

The report on the Home Security Sensors market provides a birds eye view of the current proceeding within the Home Security Sensors market. Further, the report also takes into account the impact of the novel COVID-19 pandemic on the Home Security Sensors market and offers a clear assessment of the projected market fluctuations during the forecast period. The different factors that are likely to impact the overall dynamics of the Home Security Sensors market over the forecast period (2019-2029) including the current trends, growth opportunities, restraining factors, and more are discussed in detail in the market study.

Leading manufacturers of Home Security Sensors Market:

The following manufacturers are covered:DellHPAcerAppleASUSCyberPowerPCCybertronPCGatewayIBUYPOWERLenovoMSISamsungZOTAC

Segment by RegionsNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndia

Segment by TypeAll in oneTraditional PC

Segment by ApplicationHouseholdOfficeNet BarOthers

Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry [emailprotected] https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=2506755&source=atm

Some important highlights from the report include:

You can Buy This Report from Here @ https://www.marketresearchhub.com/checkout?rep_id=2506755&licType=S&source=atm

The Questions Answered by Home Security Sensors Market Report:

And Many More.

Read the original:
The Economic Impact of Coronavirus on Trends in the Ready To Use Home Security Sensors Market 2019-2022 - Farmers Ledger

In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, who died in police custody after a former officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes, the subject of police brutality and police reform has come firmly under the spotlight.

As protests continue to sweep America and parts of the globe, John Oliver has taken a deep dive into that very topic breaking down the history of policing, the obstacles standing in the way of its reform, and what the phrase "defund the police" actually means.

Some of the issues, he explains, can be traced back to the role the police are expected to serve in society.

"While we should absolutely be angry at the police right now, let's also be angry at the series of choices that left them as essentially the only public resource in some communities," Oliver says.

"And on top of all of that, we've made those bad choices even more dangerous in recent years by needlessly arming police to the fucking teeth."

Oliver goes on to discuss the "warrior training" some offices receive and the problem with police unions, which have a history of putting job security above the safety of the public.

Ultimately, he finishes by turning his attention to possible solutions including an explanation of what defunding the police might actually look like.

"Defunding the police absolutely does not mean that we eliminate all cops and just succumb to The Purge," Oliver says. "It's just about moving away from a narrow conception of public safety that relies on policing and punishment, and investing in a community's actual safety net: things like stable housing, mental health services, and community organizations.

"The concept is that the role of the police can then significantly shrink, because they are not responding to the homeless, or to mental health calls, or arresting children in schools, or really any other situation where the best solution is not someone showing up with a gun."

Oliver concludes by saying that the problem doesn't only sit with individual officers it's much bigger than that.

"It's about a structure built on systemic racism that this country created intentionally, and now needs to dismantle intentionally, and replace with one that takes into account the needs of the people that it actually serves," he says.

Want to take action? Here are five ways to donate to end police brutality.

Link:
John Oliver's deep dive into the police is as grim as it is eye-opening - Mashable

WASHINGTON The Pentagons top research agency thinks it has developed a new generation of technology that will make voting machines, medical databases and other critical digital systems far more secure against hackers.

Now, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which helped invent GPS and the Internet, is launching a contest for ethical hackers to try to break into that technology before it goes public. DARPA is offering the hackers cash prizes for any flaws they find using a program called a bug bounty.

The new technology is based on re-engineering hardware, such as computer chips and circuits, so that the typical methods hackers use to undermine the software that runs on them become impossible. Thats far different from the standard approach to cybersecurity, in which tech companies release a never-ending stream of software patches every time bad guys discover a new bug.

If industry widely adopts the new systems, DARPA researchers believe they can finally shift the tide in a battle that has favored hackers over defenders basically since the birth of the Internet.

It [would have] a huge, huge impact, DARPA Microsystems Technology Office Program Manager Keith Rebello, whos running the program, told me. About 70 percent of all cyberattacks are due to hardware vulnerabilities. If we can fix those permanently, we can take a large portion of the attack surface away.

The agency purposefully chose some of those models to demonstrate the dangers of the current generation of poorly secured hardware and to show how much safer the world could be with more secure versions, Rebello told me.

The biggest ticket item is a voter registration database. State and federal election officials have identified such systems as one of the greatest vulnerabilities if hackers from Russia or elsewhere try to undermine the 2020 election. Kremlin-linked hackers successfully broke into voter databases in Illinois and Florida in 2016, though theres no evidence they changed any votes.

If DARPA can prove its version of the database is far tougher to hack, that could be a game-changer, allowing officials to be far more confident about election security.

Another model for the bug bounty is a medical database containing research into the novel coronavirus information that FBI and Department of Homeland Security officials say is being targeted by Chinese hackers.

We wanted to use demonstrations that are relevant to show the impact that we can have with this technology, Rebello told me.

The program, which is officially called System Security Integration Through Hardware and Firmware, or SSITH, started in 2017 and will run for another year. So there will be time to make fixes based on problems the cybersecurity pros uncover.

The secure hardware itself is funded by DARPA but is being built by researchers and academics at places like Lockheed Martin, the University of Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

DARPA is working with the Defense Digital Service, a technology tiger team inside the Pentagon that has managed bug bounties for the Army, Navy and Air Force and recently helped find hackable bugs in systems on a U.S. fighter jet.

The project is also being managed by the cybersecurity company Synack, which specializes in running bug bounties and has worked with the Defense Digital Service on some of its earlier projects.

The largest share of the hacking will be done by cybersecurity pros who work regularly with Synack and have expertise in a number of specialized areas, including hacking hardware. There will also be a broader part of the program thats basically open to anyone with hacking experience who isnt barred from working with the government, such as people on terrorist watch lists.

This is a wide pool of people with different skill sets that we might not always find in government, Rebello said. Well have three months for the hacker community to experiment and take things apart, and try and reverse-engineer our hardware to see if they can break it.

DARPA couldnt say how much money it expects to pay out to hackers who find bugs. Synack said its payouts typically range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars for very severe vulnerabilities.

But Rebello is hopeful it will start being integrated into some commercially available computer chips in the next two to four years, he told me.

A handful of companies have already expressed interest in piloting some version of the system, including the British firm Arm Holdings, he said.

The rush is on because cybersecurity is going to grow far more important during the next decade.

Thats partly because critical business sectors will be doing far more of their work using online systems, such as manufacturing, medicine, transportation, energy and agriculture. The Internet will also begin connecting to a slew of new devices that werent networked before, such as driverless cars, thermostats and home security systems, creating far more opportunities for hackers.

The attack surface is going to explode, so we really need to start thinking about how we can rein that in, Rebello said. And having secure hardware, I think, is one very important key to solving that puzzle.

Read the original post:
DARPA wants hackers to try to crack its new generation of super-secure hardware - Seattle Times

Turn your smartphone into a security camera  |  Photo Credit: Representative Image

There are plenty of things that you can do using your smartphone. You can make calls, conduct video meetings, surf the internet, explore content on social media platforms, click and post pictures and whatnot. But what we often forget is that we can exploitthe features of our smartphones beyond their designated use.

For example, did you know that you can use your camera as a home security system? No right? Well just hear us out because we are about to suggest an exciting way to put your old smartphone to use.

Do you have an old smartphone lying around your house that you dont use because its an old version or model? Then time to find that phone because with our help, you can turn that smartphone into a security camera.

Download a third-party security camera app, preferably Alfred Camera on both your old and new smartphone. On the new phone, tap on Start and select Viewer. On the old phone, tap on Start and select Camera. On both these phones, you will have to Sign in using a Google account. Thus it is better to create a new email ID only for getting surveillance alerts and notifications. This is pretty much how you have to set up the app. You can now view the video feeds on your mobile or on the web using alfred.computer

This app has features like recording and storing footage etc. that will help you monitor your living space. This particular app is compatible with both Android and iOS so does not matter what version or model you have.

Once you are done setting up the app, you can make some additional changes like enabling or disabling audio. You can also ensure that the app automatically reopens if the phone reboots or drains out of charge. However, it is recommended that you fix the phone at a location where the power plugis nearby. You should keep in mind that the phone is old so the battery might be an issue.

On your new phone, you can make changes like adding a trust circle (people who can access the video footage). You can also make changes to the motion detection sensitivity and you can enable a low-light filter on the cameras.

However, remember that not all these changes can be made for free. There are only a limited number of things that you can do using the free version of Alfred. If you want some advanced level surveillance, then you might consider purchasing its premium version. If not, you should consider installing other security camera apps that operate equally well.

More:
Enhance the security at your home; turn your old smartphone into a security camera, heres how - Times Now

New research indicates that infosec professionals are more concerned about their employers security than the security of their own home, with the vast majority saying recent data breaches in the business sector have increased their organizations focus on securing data.

Data security has become a nemesis for IT professionals. A patchwork approach, misconfigured services and confusion around new cloud security models has created a crisis of confidence among information security professionals. According to the Oracle and KPMG Cloud Threat Report 2020, this issue will only be fixed if businesses make security part of their culture.

Almost three quarters of organizations have or plan to hire a CISO with more cloud security skills, and over half of organizations have, in fact, added a new role called Business Information Security Officer (BISO) to collaborate with the CISO and help integrate security culture into the business.

Fear and trust issues experienced by IT professionals is echoed in a recent Bitdefender study showing half of security professionals in large organizations across the US, EMEA and APAC are literally losing sleep worrying about their organizational cybersecurity posture.

Asked if theyve ever been kept awake at night out of concern their company might get hacked, half of the respondents in our study answered sure without hesitation. Asked what causes the most stress in their role, 36% of CISOs cited a lack of cybersecurity understanding from general employees.

The KPMG report reveals these fears are not only ongoing, but that theyve mushroomed in recent months.The study found that IT professionals are more concerned about the security of their companys data than the security of their own home.

IT professionals are 3X more concerned about the security of company financials and intellectual property than their home security, the study says.

80 percent worry that the cloud service providers they deal with will become competitors in their core markets, highlighting IT professionals concerns that cloud service providers might steal their intellectual property. 75 percent of IT professionals also said they view the public cloud as more secure than their own data centers. However, 92 percent of IT professionals do not believe their organization is well prepared to secure public cloud services.

In another key finding, around 80 percent of IT professionals say that recent data breaches experienced by their competitors have increased their organizations focus on securing data.

See more here:
Infosec Professionals Are More Worried About Corporate Security than Their Own Home Security - Security Boulevard

Boca Raton-based home security provider ADTconducted a surveyof 1,001 Americans who consume true crime content.

True crime has taken over popular culture, evolving from a niche topic into one of our favorite entertainment and storytelling genres. But watching or listening to true crime stories or mysteries has entered our psyche, and as we become aware of the need to protect our families, our buying habits turn to security devices.

The survey showed that women are more likely to experience negative emotional consequences after consuming this type of content. Compared to men, women were more likely to worry about their family's safety (31.3%), their own safety (27.7%), and to feel anxious, scared, or paranoid (24.4%, 23%, and 22.2%, respectively) after reading, watching, or listening to true crime.

Yet women were almost twice as likely as men to consume true crime every day. The most popular formats included TV shows (87%), movies (75.4%), and books (43%). Less than 28% of people listened to true crime podcasts, which were more than twice as popular among millennials compared to baby boomers.

Over two out of three (69.1%) people in the US believed that the events portrayed in true crime content could happen to their own family. Over two in five (44.1%) check their locks at night, 16.4% carry pepper spray, and 15.6% go out in groups only.

The most popular home security additions chosen by respondents were surveillance cameras (which were installed by 10% more men than women), a doorbell camera, and a security system.

People enjoy being scared in situations they can control and are comforted by horror movies or TV shows -- even shows that are tense and unnerving. Knowing that these shows are not real can make horror stories entertaining and enjoyable.

Almost two out of three (57%) of people said that they preferred true crime content with actual footage or recordings, and nearly as many (56.9%) said footage or recordings made the content scarier.

Over two out of five (44.3%) reported taking a break from true crime content as they found it too overwhelming for them.

The survey showed that installing security cameras made people feel less scared about being home alone at night down from 44.5% to 23.2%. Occurrences of nightmares and hearing noises also reduced after installing security cameras.

Installing security cameras can be really simple. I installed an outdoor security camera in less than 20 minutes last week, and I am testing several more indoor cameras which have added to me feeling more secure.

If you need peace of mind, buy a low-cost security camera. Then you can watch all of the true-crime stories you want to without being overwhelmed.

I tried the Netvue 1080p Vigil security camera for external surveillance, and I was so impressed with it, I bought two more.

I tried the Netvue Orb 1080p security camera and was impressed by its indoor detection, remote control and two-way voice features.

Americans are being impacted by this fraud-filled crisis as bad actor activity escalates.

Although Americans worry about their devices being hacked, most are happy to share their passwords.

Follow this link:
Surveillance cameras are top home security feature installed after consuming true crime content - ZDNet

Several years ago, James Kerr frequently traveled for work and wanted his family to feel more secure in the home while he was away. So, the mechanical engineer sought security window coverings that would meet his needs.

Not impressed with much of what he saw on the market, Kerr played with the idea of creating a product himself when he came across a stainless steel screen material rated to handle hurricane weather. He developed concepts for frames that would secure the screens into the windows of stucco homes in Southern Nevada. This eventually led to him launching Las Vegas-based Boss Security Screens.

It has the look and feel of an ordinary solar screen, but once you touch it, you know theres no way to get in. We even guarantee that, he said.

Thanks to products like Kerrs, the window covering market has evolved through the years to offer better security with aesthetic appeal. The same can be said for security doors, shutters and other security coverings. Heres a look at why todays window and door coverings are considered a worthwhile upgrade for Southern Nevada homeowners.

Weighing the investment

Boss Security Screens are engineered to securely mount to the outside of all types of window frames of stucco homes. They also have an ADA-compliant hinge requiring only 5 pounds of pressure to push the screen open from the inside, if needed. The dense weave screen also reduces solar energy by 65 percent to help save on cooling bills, while also offering plenty of airflow and visible light for those perfect spring or fall days when a homeowner wants to crack open a window or the front door.

Available for sliders and French doors as well, each piece is custom-made for a clients home. Larger windows cost around $1,000 each, and sliders and French doors may cost around $2,500 or $3,000, Kerr said.

A standard bug screen may only cost around $100, but dense security mesh products are really part of an entirely different conversation. Theyre made with much higher-grade materials and are engineered to withstand someone trying to cut or smash their way through them, so you should expect to pay quite a bit more.

Melissa Roche Amos, the owner of the local interior design firm Parlor 430, said about 25 percent of her clients request window and door coverings. One of the reasons she happily suggests them is the positive effect on property values.

The one thing thats important to me is increasing the value of the home, and these are features that absolutely do that, she said.

Wrought iron or screened security entry doors are the most popular first step to adding security and enhancing value, she said.

Its something a lot of people want. They may not think oh I want that fancy front door when they visit a home, but once they see one in place, they want it, she added. The great thing is that you can get one thats beautiful, modern, inexpensive and super stylish.

Prices can range from a few hundred dollars at a big box retailer up to several thousand dollars for a custom-made installed wrought-iron security door. Regardless of the amount you spend, the designer says its important to not over-personalize it. Keep designs simple and sleek for resale value.

Other window coverings

Roche Amos said screens often leave a home a little darker. To some, however, thats a selling point because it helps a home stay cooler during hot summer months. If a client likes screens but wants a little more light, the interior designer uses a low-energy bright bulb, such as a 4000k bulb you can find at a hardware store.

She suggests rolling shutters for clients who like control over natural lighting. Many will leave the shutters closed during the day in the summertime but open them up to watch sunsets or to enjoy scenery during cooler hours of the day.

Motorized options will cost more, she said, and you can expect to pay several hundred dollars to more than $1,000 for a window rolling shutter. If you like certain screen or rolling shutter options, but they are a little too expensive, the designer offers a good compromise.

You can put them on the east- and west-facing windows, not the north and south secondary windows where youre not getting direct light, she said.

Security window film

Security window film also has grown in popularity. Richard Miller, owner of Green Valley Tint &Graphics, one of the largest installers of security film in the country, has experienced a business boom as homeowners worry about increases in home break-ins, some of which are the result of a growing opioid epidemic, he said.

In business since the mid-1980s and with installations on more than 11,000 valley homes, his company sells both 3M and Armorcoat security films that can withstand the force of stacked stone. They also are used in a number of commercial situations such as offices, schools and retail outlets prone to robberies.

People are turning to security film because they dont want people getting into their homes, he said, and it doesnt interfere with the view and doesnt make the place look like a prison.

Security film also is reasonably priced. Most films range between $8 and $12 a square foot, Miller said, while ceramic blends can cost from $16 to $24 per square foot. Some keep out more than 95 percent of a windows solar gain, too.

Miller admits his tints are just part of the solution when it comes to a homes overall security. He suggests security doors on patios and the front door, camera systems, video doorbells and other measures for clients.

He offers one cautionary note when seeking a reputable window film installer. When it comes to applying films to sliding and French doors, some companies overlook the need to adhere the film to the frame to keep the glass in place if an intruder tries to break in. Its a commonly overlooked detail that can be the difference between someone gaining access to the home or not, he said.

With these installations, its not as easy as some think. You have to know what youre doing, he added. There are a lot of guys who get into this business only to realize theres a lot they dont know and they get out. Make sure you go with a reputable vendor.

More here:
Home security starts with windows and doors - Las Vegas Review-Journal